Convertible toy vehicle assembly



Sept. 4, 1962 E. s. KAUFMAN CONVERTIBLE TOY VEHICLE ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. '7, 1961 Earl 5. Kaufman IN VENTOR.

Sept. 4, 1962 E. s. KAUFMAN CONVERTIBLE TOY VEHICLE ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7, 1961 Earl .5. Kaufman INVENTOR.

BY WWW Sept. 4, 1962 E. s. KAUFMAN CONVERTIBLE TOY VEHICLE ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-She et Filed Sept. '7, 1961 Ear/ 5. Kaufman INVENTOR.

WW 3M 3,052,481 CONVERTEBLE T03 VEHICLE ASSEMBLY Earl S. Kaufman, Hudson, Ill. Filed Sept. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 136,539 8 Qlaims. (Cl. 280-71) The present invention generally relates to a toy construction and more particularly a toy of the type propelled and controlled by an occupant which may be converted from one type of toy to another by employing various of the components in different orientations and relationships thereby providing a construction assembly or kit which may be employed for constructing various toys.

The primary object of the present invention is to pro vide a toy construction kit by virtue of which a number of different toys may be formed with the present invention relating specifically to the steering assembly for enabling the steering to be converted from a single pivot type for a single wheel such as on a scooter to a type using two front wheels pivotal about vertical kingpins upon movement of a tiller type steering mechanism together with an assembly for forming a steering wheel type of mechanism for a single pivot point yoke for a single front Wheel.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a convertible toy vehicle assembly which is simple in construction, easy to convert, rigid in its various orientations and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a scooter type vehicle illustrating the structural details of the steering assembly;

FIGURE 2 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 22 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the orientation of the components when assembled;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded group perspective view illustrating the orientation of the components of the steering assembly before assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of another form of steering assembly in which the basic frame unit therefor has been inverted;

IGURE 5 is an exploded group perspective view of the components of the steering assembly of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the assembly illustesting the manner of supporting the steering tongue bracket;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of another form of the steering assembly;

FIGURE 8 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 8-8 of FIGURE 7 illustrating the structural details of a portion of this form of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 99 of FIGURE 7 illustrating further structural details of this form of the invention; and

FIGURE 10 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 1010 of FIGURE 9 illustrating further structural details of this form of the invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the steering assembly illustrated in FIGURES 1-3 is generally designated by the numeral 10 and the steering assembly is connected with a frame generally designated by numeral 12 including a pair of parallel angle iron side rails 14 which rails are employed in each form of the invention. In the fi zfi l Patented Sept. 4, 1962 form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1, the rails have horizontal bottom inwardly extending flanges and vertical flanges at the outer edges thereof which are interconnected at one end by a transverse plate 16 and a supporting plate for a body 18 may be provided on the rails 14 in spaced relation to the rear plate 16 whereby a single wheel 20 may be supported therebetween by an axle 22 or the like thus forming a scooter type vehicle.

Attached to the forward ends of the rails 14 is an upwardly and forwardly extending generally rectangular bracket designated by reference numeral 24 and including a pair of parallel side rails 26 and 28 interconnected by end rails 30 and 32 with the rail 32 being in the form of a plate orientated in angular relation to the side rails 26 and 28 whereby the ends of the side rails 26 and 28 to which the plate 32 is connected are inclined at an angle as designated by reference numeral 34.

interconnecting the side rails 26 and 28 in spaced relation to the end member 30 is a transverse brace 36 thus forming a rigid assembly in which the plate 32 receives the forward ends of the side rails 14 of the frame 12 and such side rails are secured to the side members 26 and 28 of the bracket 24 by virtue of fasteners 38 extending therethrough. This will orientate the bracket 24 in an upwardly inclined direction with the end plate 30 being disposed substantially in a vertical position.

Attached to the end plate 39 is a mounting plate 40 of generally the same configuration and having apertures 42 for matching with apertures 44 in the end plate 3% and being secured thereto by suitable fastener bolts 46. Welded to the mounting plate it} is a vertical sleeve or bushing 48 which, when mounted on the plate 30 is slightly inclined rearwardly in the same manner as the plate 30 as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Supported from and depending from the sleeve 43 is a yoke generally designated by numeral 50 which includes a pair of parallel legs 52 each having an aperture 54- in the bottom end thereof for receiving an axle 56 having retaining nuts 58 on the outer ends thereof for rotatably mounting a front wheel 60' in the yoke. The upper end of the yoke is provided with a hollow rectangular or square portion 62 rigidly interconnecting the legs and having a top opening 64 and an opening 66 in the front wall thereof. Attached to the yoke and also mounted for rotation on the sleeve 48 is an elongated steering rod 68 in the form of a bar or strap having a set of apertures 70 in the lower end thereof and an inwardly extending lug 72 spaced from the lower end. The lug 72 is apertured as at 74 and is disposed on top of the hollow upper end 62 of the yoke and the apertured end 70 is secured to the hollow upper end of the yoke by virtue of a fastening bolt 76 extending through the aperture 70 and the aperture 66. When assembled, the bushing or sleeve 48 is disposed with the bore therein in alignment with the aperture 64 and the lug 72 is disposed in overlying relation thereto and a vertical headed pin 78 is provided which extends upwardly from the center of the hollow upper end 62 through the opening 64, through the bushing or sleeve 48 and through the opening 74 and a suitable retainer such as a cotter pin 80 is employed for retaining this assembly in assembled condition.

The upper end of the bar or steering rod 63 is provided with a rearwardly extending plate or end portion 82 having an inclined free end portion 84 with a transverse sleeve 86 underlying the inclined end portion. The inclined end portion is provided with an aperture 88 and the extending portion 82 is provided with a slot 90 and an aperture 92. A handle bar assembly 94 is attached to the upwardly inclined portion 84 by virtue of a mounting bracket 96 rigid with the handle bar assembly 94 With the bracket 96 being secured to the upwardly inclined 3 portion 84 by virtue of a bolt 98 and the handle bar assembly 94 includes hand grips 100 thus forming a control means somewhat in the nature of a scooter in which the front wheel 60 may be steerable about generally a vertical axis as defined by the pivot pin 78 thus providing a rigid and easily controlled toy vehicle. The various fastening bolts are of conventional construction and, where necessary, lock washers, lock nuts or the like may be provided for retaining the fastener bolts in position.

The form of the steering assembly illustrated in FIG- URES 4-6 is generally designated by the numeral 102 and in this form of the invention, there is employed a number of the components as employed in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1-3 and for purposes of clarity, the same reference numerals will be employed in conjunction with these common elements in order that the manner of conversion may be understood. In this form of the invention, the horizontal frame rails 14 open downwardly and are inverted from the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 and this is also true of the bracket 24 in that the side rails 26 and 28 thereof now extend downwardly and the plate 32 overlies the rails 14- as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

The generally vertically disposed end plate 30 is connected with a transverse supporting bar or beam 104 having a pair of centrally disposed apertures 106 for alignment with the apertures 44. Also, the mounting plate 40 along with the sleeve 48 is disposed outwardly of the support beam 104 and the apertures 42 therein are aligned with the apertures 106 and 44 for receiving suitable fastening bolts thus rigidly connecting the frame rails 14, the bracket 24, the transverse support beam 164 and the mounting plate 40.

At each outer end of the support beam 104, there is provided a bushing or vertical bearing 108 for rotatably receiving the upstanding pin 110 attached to the apex of a bellcrank 112 which has one leg thereof extending outwardly and forming an axle 114 for a steerable front wheel. The other leg of the bellcrank 112 extends rearwardly and is pivotally connected to a tie rod 116 by a pivot pin connection 118. The tie rod extends generally parallel to the support beam 104 and interconnects the rearwardly extending legs of the bellcranks at the opposite ends of the support beam 104. This retains the steerable wheels in parallel condition and at the center of the tie rod 116, there is provided a pivotal connection 119 with a forwardly extending steering arm 120 having an upstanding pin 122 journaled in the bearing sleeve 48 on the mounting plate 40. The forward end of the steering rod 120 extends upwardly in an inclined direction as illustrated by numeral 124 and terminates in a rearwardly and upwardly inclined end portion 126 having an aperture 128 therein. Adjacent the upper end portion 126 of the portion 124 is a pair of apertured lugs 130 receiving the sleeve 86 on the steering rod or bar 68 which has been inverted so that the offset portion 82 is disposed alongside the upper end portion of the member 124 and the sleeve 86 is journaled between the apertured lugs 130' by virtue of a pivot bolt 132 or the like. The other end of the bar 68 is provided with a handle 134 having a loop 136 on the free end thereof with the handle being secured to the bar by a pair of bolts or fasteners 138 extending through the apertures 7 in the end of the bar 68. Thus, with this construction, the bar 68 is moved substantially in the manner of a tiller about the pivot axis formed by the pivot pin 122 received in the sleeve 48 with the bar 68 being svw'ngable about a generally horizontal axis formed by the pivot pin 132. A transverse foot supporting member 140 may be attached to the end portion 126 of the steering arm 120 as illustrated in FIGURE 6 by virtue of a fastener bolt 142. This member 140 can, if so desired, also be used as a means for steering the device by use of the feet.

Thus, in converting the device from a scooter type steering assembly to the type having two frontwheels steerable about kingpins 110, the frame rails 14 are used, the bracket 24 is used, the mounting plate and sleeve 48 are used along with the steering bar 68 with these components being reorientated in relation to each other for forming a different type of steering assembly for a toy vehicle.

The form of the steering assembly illustrated in FIG- URES 71() is generally designated by reference numeral and has the same orientation of the frame rails 14 and bracket 24 as employed in FIGURE 4. The mounting plate 40 and vertical sleeve 48 are mounted on the end plate 30 interconnecting the side rails 26 and 28 of the bracket 24 and the yoke 50 is employed along with the pivot pin 78. Also, the steering bar 68 is employed that is orientated in a different manner. In this form of the invention, the offset end 82 is orientated transversely of the reinforcing member 36 and is pivotally attached thereto by virtue of a bolt 152 or equivalent fastener extending through the transverse plate 36 and the aperture 92 whereby the steering bar 63 may pivot about generally a longitudinal axis along one side thereof. The upper rear end of the steering bar 68 is supported by virtue of using the steering arm 120 under the plate 32 with the upwardly inclined portion 124 forming a support for the steering arm 68 by virtue of the end portion 126 being attached thereto by a pivot pin type of fastener 154 whereby the fastener 154 is in alignment with the fastener 152 so that the bar 68 may be pivoted about a longitudinal axis somewhat in the nature of a steering rod on a vehicle.

The handle bar assembly 94 is attached to the steering arm 96 by employing the handle loop 136 having the end portion deformed upwardly as indicated by numeral 156 for attaching to the support plate 96.

A steering link 158 of generally U-shaped construction is provided with a leg 160 having an offset or laterally extending end portion 162 that is received in the slot 90 in the offset end of the steering rod 68. The other leg of the steering link 158 is designated by numeral 164 and extends in through the aperture 66 in the yoke 50 and may encircle or otherwise be attached to the steering pin 78 thus pivoting the yoke 50 about its rotational axis. The oscillating movement of the offset end 82 of the steering bar 68 enables swinging movement of the link 158 due to the slot connection in the offset end 82.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A convertible toy vehicle construction comprising a frame including a pair of longitudinal side frame rails, a bracket mounted at the forward end of the frame and extending therefrom in an inclined direction in the same vertical plane, means on said bracket for mounting engagement with said side frame rails, a steering assembly, and means at the forward end of the bracket for supporting said steering wheel assembly, said means for connecting the bracket to the side frame rails including a transverse plate in angular relation to the top and bottom edges of the bracket whereby said bracket may be mounted in downwardly inclined relation or upwardly inclined relation to the frame rails by inverting the mounting plate, said steering assembly including a mounting plate having a cylindrical sleeve on the outer surface thereof, a yoke receiving a front wheel therein, a pivot pin extending through the top of the yoke and the sleeve for pivotally mounting the yoke below the sleeve, a steering bar attached to the yoke and extending above the sleeve and including means lockably engaging the upper end of the pivot pin thereby retaining the pivot pin and yoke assembled, and handle bar means at the upper end of the steering bar for controlling the angular position thereof.

2. A convertible toy vehicle construction comprising a frame including a pair of longitudinal side frame rails, a bracket mounted at the forward end of the frame and extending therefrom in an inclined direction in the same vertical plane, means on said bracket for mounting engagement with said side frame rails, a steering assembly, and means at the forward end of the bracket for supporting said steering wheel assembly, said means for connecting the bracket to the side frame rails including a transverse plate in angular relation to the top and bottom edges of the bracket whereby said bracket may be mounted in downwardly inclined relation or upwardly inclined relation to the frame rails by inverting the mounting plate, said steering assembly including a transverse support beam rigidly attached to the outer end of the bracket, vertical sleeves on the outer ends of said beam, vertical kingpins rotatably mounted in each sleeve, a horizontally disposed bellcrank having the apex thereof rigid with the lower end of the kingpin, one leg of each bellcrank extending outwardly and adapted to journal a front steerable wheel thereon, the other leg of the bellcrank lever extending rearwardly from the beam, a tie rod interconnecting the rearwardly extending legs of the bellcranks, and means connected to the tie rod for varying the angular position of the bellcranks about the kingpins.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said means connected to the tie rod includes a steering arm having the rear end thereof pivotally attached to the tie rod, a sleeve mounted rigidly on the center part of the transverse beam, an upstanding .pin rigid with the steering arm rotatable in the sleeve whereby swinging movement of the steering arm will move the tie rod longitudinally, an upwardly extending end portion on the steering arm and including apertured lugs thereon, an elongated steering bar pivotally connected to said lugs for swinging movement in a vertical plane and for swinging the steering arm about the pivot pin by swinging the steering bar in the form of a tiller.

4. A convertible toy vehicle construction comprising a frame including a pair of longitudinal side frame rails, a bracket mounted at the forward end of the frame and extending therefrom in an inclined direction in the same vertical plane, means on said bracket for mounting engagement with said side frame rails, a steering assembly, and means at the forward end of the bracket for supporting said steering Wheel assembly, said means for connecting the bracket to the side frame rails including a transverse plate in angular relation to the top and bottom edges of the bracket whereby said bracket may be mounted in downwardly inclined relation or upwardly inclined relation to the frame rails by inverting the mounting plate, said steering assembly including a mounting plate at the forward end of the bracket having a generally vertical sleeve rigid therewith, a yoke swivelly mounted in said sleeve, said yoke receiving a front steerable wheel, a generally U-shaped wire rod link having one end thereof engaged with the yoke, and means swinging the wire 6 link laterally of the bracket for pivoting the yoke for steering a vehicle.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said bracket includes a transverse support member, a steering arm being pivotally connected thereto for rotation about an inclined axis, said supporting arm having a depending end with a slot therein receiving an offsetting end of said wire rod link whereby pivotal movement of the steering bar generally about its own longitudinal axis will swing the yoke about a vertical axis, and a handle bar connected to said steering bar for more accurate control thereof.

6. A multi-vehiele unit comprising, a bracket, a mounting assembly and a steering rod, said bracket consisting of two spaced elongated side members, a front plate and a rear plate; said mounting assembly consisting of a fiat plate removably secured to the front "bracket plate and a vertically extending sleeve secured to the front side of the flat plate; said steering rod being pivotally secured to the bracket and mounting assembly and including an elongated bar having a plurality of apertures located at a first end thereof, a lug extending substantially perpendicular from one side of the elongated bar at a point spaced from said first end, said lug having an aperture therein, a plate extending substantially perpendicular from said one side at the second end of the elongated bar, said plate having an aperture and elongated slot therein, the free end portion of said plate beyond the slot and aperture being outwardly inclined and having an aperture therein, and a transverse sleeve underlying and secured to the inclined portion.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein the bracket side members are relatively thin and wide and orientated with their wide sides extending vertically, the front edges being slightly inclined and having the front plate secured thereto, the rear edges being inclined at a substantially greater degree and having the rear plate secured thereto, said inclined edges converging toward one side of the bracket.

8. A steering rod comprising an elongated bar having a plurality of apertures located at a first end thereof, a lug extending substantially perpendicular from one side of the elongated bar at a point spaced from said first end, said lug having an aperture therein, a plate extending substantially perpendicular from said one side at the second end of the elongated bar, said plate having an aperture and elongated slot therein, the free end portion of said plate beyond the slot and aperture being outwardly inclined and having an aperture therein, and a transverse sleeve underlying and secured to the inclined portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 11,516,105 Kinoshita Nov. 18, 19% 2,768,834 Wilson Oct. 30, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 186,206 Great Britain Sept. 28, 1922 580,689 France Sept. 6, 1924 964,869 France Feb. 8, 1950 

